First Aid

First Aid

1. Splints:

   • Sling and binder: Arm/shoulder injuries. Check scene and person, get consent, support injured part, check circulation, position (triangular bandage under injured arm and over uninjured shoulder to form a sling), secure sling by tying the ends of the ends of the sling at the side of the neck, bind to chest with triangular bandage, recheck circulation.
   • Soft: Ankle or foot injury. Get consent after checking scene and person, check circulation, Place several triangular bandages above and below injured part, wrap with soft blanket , tie bandages, check circulation.
   • Rigid: Wrist or forearm injury. Get consent after checking scene and person, support above and below injust part, check circulation, place padded board under injured part, secure bandages above and below part, check circulation.
   • Anatomic: Knee and leg injuries. After checking scene and injured person, Get consent, Support injured part (above and below the site of the injury), Check circulation (check for feeling warmth and color beyond the injury), possition several triangular bandages above and below injury, Place uninjured body part next to injured to allign them, tie bandages securely, check again for circulation.

2. Sudden Illness:

   • Diabetic Emergencies: Response: Give little bit of sugar and take their advice if conscious. Call 9-1-1 if person unconscious or almost, or unable to take sugar, or does not feel better within 5 min of taking it.
   • Seizures: Don't try to stop it, Make sure ariways are open afterwards, remove any unsafe objects from the area, (care as if for unconscious person), roll over if any fluids in mouth, Check for any further blood or injuries, reassure the person. Call 9-1-1 if lasts more than 5 min. or injuries or consciousness seems questionable.
   • Cold-Related: Remove wet clothing, never rub frozen area, use skin-to-skin contact, or for more serious gently soak in warm water until normal color returns and feels warm, loosly bandage area. Call 9-1-1 if serious for frostbite. Call 9-1-1 immedieately for hypothermia. Make person comfortable, move to warm place, remove wet clothing, dry person, put on dry clothes, cover head, if applying heat pads keep barier between skin and heat.
   • Heat-Related: Response: Rapidly cool the body by immersing up to the neck in cold water, or douse or spray person with cold water, sponge person with ice cold wet towels all over, cover with bags of ice, apply these rapid cooling methods for 20 min or until persons condition improves, give care for other conditions found. Call 9-1-1 immediately, heat stroke is a life threatening emergency.
   • Allergic Reactions: Monitor person's breathing and check for changes in body conditions, assist person in taking any medication, keep track of any changes overtime until help arrives. Call 9-1-1 if person has trouble breathing, throat tightening, explains that they are subjected to severe reaction, or unconscious.
   • Poisoning: Response: Remove person from danger or source of poison, without endangering yourself, Check person's level of consciousness and breathing, care for any life-threatening conditions, ask questions to get more info, look for any containers to take with you to the telephone. Call 9-1-1 if life threatening, unconscious, or about to loose consciousness. If person is conscious and alert then call the National Poison Control Center hotline and follow advice given.

3. Drags and Carries:

   • Non-Emergency Moves:
     • Walking Assist: Most basic, for conscious person with leg injury, place injured person's arm over your shoulders and hold in place with one hand, support person with other had around their waist so your body acts as a crutch, if second person is there they can do the same on other side. No head neck or spinal injury.
     • Two Person Seat Carry: Requires two people, can be used for conscious and not seriously injured person. Put one arm behind person's thaighs and other across person's back, interlock arms with second responder behind person's legs and across their back, walk together. Do not use if head, neck, or spinal injury.
   • Emergency moves:
     • Blanket Drag: Can be used when equipment is limited, keep person between you and blanket, gather half blanket and place against person's side, roll person as a unit towards you, reach over and place blanket so it is under the person, then roll person onto blanket, gather person at the head and move the person.
     • Pack Strap Carry: Conscious or Unconscious person (requieres a second responder to help possition over your back), have person stand, position yourself with your back straight towards the person, knees bent so your shoulders fit in their armits, cross persons arms infront and grasp their wrists, lean forward slighly and pull person onto your back, stand up nd walk to safety, No head, neck, or spinal injury.
     • Ankle Drag: (foot drag) to move person who is too large to carry, firmly grasp person's ankle and move backwards, person's arms should be crossed on their chest, pull person in straight line carefully.
     • Clothes Drag: Moves unconscious or conscious person with head, neck, spinal injury. Helps keep neck/back stable, graps person's clothing behind neck gathering enough to secure a firm grip, using clothing pull person head first to safety. Here head is cradled by clothing and responders arms.

4. EMS Systems

   • Checking an unconscious victim: Check scene, tap shoulder, tell bystander to call 9-1-1, if person face down gently roll person face up keeping head, neck, and spine in straight line, (one arm up, cross opposite foot of arm that is in the up possition over the heel of the other foot-right over left), hand on right hip and pull toward arm that is upwards, support neck and head as you turn person over, once person on thier back open airways by putting your palm on their forehead and two fingers on the bony at of their chin then tilting the head back as you lift up the chin, check for breathing (ear to mouth), look for chest rising and falling, check for severe bleeding.
   • Checking a conscious victim: Check scene for safety, introduce yourself, get consent, ask questions, provide appropriate care or give comfort until help arrives.
   • Check, Call, Care: Check the scene and the person, Call 9-1-1, Care for the person.
   • Shock
     • Definition: When the Circulatory system fails to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the tissues and organs
       • Response: Have the person lie down 2)Control any bleeding 3) Maintain normal body temperature 4) Do not give them food 5) Reassure them